St. Ignatius in Ijamsville is booming.
Parish leaders project that there will be 85 baptisms this year. There are more than 1,500 registered families – an addition of 350 in the last 30 months. Ongoing housing developments mean that even more growth is anticipated.
Archbishop Edwin F. O’Brien dedicated a 12,000-square-foot multipurpose building following the Sept. 19 noon Mass that will help the southeastern Frederick County parish handle the growth spurt and greatly alleviate a space crunch.
“It’s going to give us a lot more space for faith formation, space for meetings, office space, a library and a conference room,” said Michael Jendrek, pastor.
Increased space will allow the faith formation program to grow from two sessions to seven sessions held throughout the week. Items that had previously been stored in the social hall will be removed, freeing up that building for more uses.
Carol Smith, coordinator of faith formation, noted that the new building will also house a new multigenerational faith formation program.
“Families will come for a shared meal,” she said, “and parents will have some catechesis and the children will have special activities.”
Designed by Michael Profitt and Associates and constructed by Bruchey Builders, the single-story edifice was planned so that a second story could be added if the growth rate continues to climb in the coming decades.
“It’s a big, beautiful space and it’s very clean and it’s open,” Smith said. “The construction team did a really nice job of matching the brick and the mortar (of other parish buildings).”
Father Jendrek said everyone who has seen the new building, which adjoins the social hall, has been impressed. The structure and improved parking cost $3.1 million.
“It took a lot of work and the faith of many people,” Father Jendrek said, “but it’s become a reality. The Holy Spirit is very active here.”